Post Messenger Recorder -

The Belleville Wildcats Basketball team dug themselves a hole they couldn't quite get out of on Tuesday, February 6th, as they lost on the road at Wisconsin Heights by the score of 65-58.

A cold shooting first half would be the issue on this night for Belleville, as the Lady Cats could manage only 19 first half points, going into the locker room at halftime down 38-19. 

"It sure seemed like we were ready to come out and play but we just couldn't buy a bucket to save ourselves," said Coach Greenleaf.  "Once we started struggling on offense, the snowball effect took place and then we forgot how to play defense as well.  Heights is a good team that went through some injury issues...they are solid and no matter who you are playing you have to play the defensive end of the court and in the first half we got away from that."

The second have would be a different mindset for the Belleville squad. 

"At halftime we said that we have a huge task in front of us and we have to start chipping away at that from the inbounds pass for the second half to the end of the game," Greenleaf said.  "We did some really great things while we were trying to comeback but we can't keep putting ourselves in that position...we need to find the way to give that 'comeback effort' at the start of the game." 

The Belleville team would climb back to get within 3 points with only minutes remaining but their efforts fell short, eventually losing by 7 points.

"We gave some great effort in the second half.  Jade (Halvensleben) left everything she had on the court, which is the mindset I need all of these girls to have.  If you come off the court without totally giving everything you have, you have let yourself and your teammates down," Greenleaf said.  "We will learn from this and it will make us better in the end."

Aimee Sies would lead the Wildcats with 16 points and eight rebounds.  Rachael Heittola recorded 15 points and 15 rebounds while Jade Halvensleben netted 11 points.  Rounding out the scoring was Kalin O'Rourke with 7 points, Jenna Shrader with 5 points and Sophia Grady with 4 points and five rebounds.

The game that was to be played on Friday, February 11th at Waterloo was postponed until Tuesday, February 13th, due to schools being closed because of snow.

On Saturday, February 10th, the Wildcats found out that they will be the #4 seed in the upcoming post season tournament slated to start on Tuesday, February 20th.  Belleville will host #13 seed, Johnson Creek, on Tuesday the 20th.  The winner of that game would then play on Friday, February 23rd against the winner of #5 Horicon vs #12 Montello.  Should Belleville win their contest on the 20th, they would once again host the game on the 23rd.  Winner of that game would be slated to play the following day, Saturday the 24th, at a yet to be determined site.